Princess Diana’s ‘SHAMEFUL’ mode of transport sold for THOUSANDS

The bicycle Diana rode while dating Prince Charles pedalled up £10,000 at auction.

It made national newspapers when a then-Lady Diana rode it around swanky Kensington.

The pictures came amid reports linking her to Charles in the late 1970s.

But it was labelled her “shame” bike after advisers told her it wasn’t a fit and suitable mode of transport for a princess.

GETTY

'SHAME' Diana's bike did not go down well with Royal aides

RARE pictures of Princess Diana show her life like never before

Princess Diana was one of the best loved members of the Royal family. Her tireless dedication to charity and her family secured her position in the hearts of the British public. The nation was shocked when she was tragically taken before her time in a car crash in Paris

1 / 41

PA Archive/PA Images

Glancing at Prince Charles on a visit to Prince Edward Island in Canada

She had bought the bike before she married into the Royal Family, keeping it until 1981 when staff told her it wasn't appropriate.

After they branded it “the shame bicycle” she sold the 1970s Raleigh Traveller to Gerald Stonehill, the father of one of her friends.

He kept it in his garage for 27 years before selling it to its current owner for £211 in 2008.

Speaking before the sale, Duncan Lang, auctioneer with Farnon & Lake of Thame, Oxon, said: "This was Diana's bike but when she got engaged to Charles it was said within the palace that it wasn't very regal to be riding around London on a bicycle so it was sold and that was that.

FARNON AND LAKE

EXPENSIVE: Diana's bike sold for a whopping £10,000

Have you seen Princess Diana's niece? She's stunning!

Kitty Spencer, Princess Diana's niece hot pics.

1 / 22

Instagram

Princess Diana's niece, Kitty Spencer

"It was only several years later that the story got out if you like and the bike became a really collectable piece of royal memorabilia.

"It's in really nice condition but has actually been quite difficult to put a value on.

"Raleigh are among the best British bikes you can buy anyway, but with the excellent provenance who knows what it will make - royal collectors will pay big money for things if they want them enough.

"We've been watching the online bids going up and up over the last few days and there were a few surreal moments that's for sure.

GETTY

FAMOUS: Diana rode the bike while she was dating Prince Charles

You wouldn't BELIEVE how many women Charles went out with before Diana

Prince Charles was linked to many women in his youth – from actresses to members of the nobility

1 / 21

Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Prince Charles with Sarah Spencer at a polo match

"The best thing is that buyers tend not to show their hands too early so once we get into the saleroom who knows what it could make!"

The bike has 26-inch wheels, three Sturmey Archer gears and it has even retained its original hand pump and is being sold alongside an original letter from Mr Stonehill, the previous owner purchasing direct from Lady Diana Spencer.

Completing the lot is a copy of the Evening Standard from August 1981, in which the two-wheeler features heavily.

The blue-coloured Ladies Raleigh Traveller Bicycle was a frequent - and increasingly famous - mode of transport for Lady Diana in the build-up to her engagement to a young Prince Charles.

Farnon & Lake expected the redoubtable old machine to fetch up to £9,000 and in the event it sold for £9,200.